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Eumeces algeriensis PETERS, 1864

IUCN Red List - Eumeces algeriensis - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaScincidae, Scincinae, Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
SubspeciesEumeces algeriensis algeriensis PETERS 1864
Eumeces algeriensis meridionalis DOMERGUE 1901 
Common NamesE: Algerian Skink
G: Berberskink, Algerienskink 
SynonymEumeces pavimentatus var. algeriensis PETERS 1864: 49
Scincus cyprius CUVIER 1816 (fide BOULENGER 1891)
Scincus cyprius — GERVAIS 1836: 309
Eumeces pavimentatus — BÖTTGER 1874
Eumeces algeriensis — BOULENGER 1887
Eumeces algeriensis — TAYLOR 1936: 146
Eumeces pavimentatus — TAYLOR 1936: 133
Eumeces schneideri algeriensis — EISELT 1940
Eumeces algeriensis — CAPUTO et al. 1993
Eumeces algeriensis — SCHLEICH, KÄSTLE & KABISCH 1996: 349
Novoeumeces algeriensis — GRIFFITH, NGO & MURPHY 2000
Novoeumeces pavimentatus — GRIFFITH, NGO & MURPHY 2000
Eumeces algeriensis — BONETTI 2002: 156
Eumeces algeriensis — SCHMITZ et al. 2004

Eumeces algeriensis meridionalis DOUMERGUE 1901
Eumeces algeriensis var. meridionalis DOMERGUE 1901: 214
Eumeces algeriensis meridionalis — WERNER 1929: 11
Eumeces schneideri meridionalis — DAREVSKY 1981: 360
Eumeces algeriensis meridionalis — SINDACO & JEREMČENKO 2008 
DistributionMorocco, Algeria (below 1700 m elevation).

Type locality: Algeria (by implication)

meridionalis: E Morocco, NW Algeria  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesSyntypes: ZMB 1258-60
Lectotype: unlocated, from Ain Sefra, collected by Hiroux (juvenile specimen of the five listed by Doumergue). Designated by Taylor (1936) [meridionalis] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: A very large member of the Schneideri group, lacking evidence of longitudinal lines. A series of irregular transverse light bands alternating with similar ocellated bands (reddish in life) on a brown ground color. Four pairs of nuchals; eight or nine upper labials, five or six preceding the subocular labial; pre- and postsubocular series continuous; upper scales on lower eyelid not or only slightly enlarged; an area of granular juxtaposed seales following the insertion of hind leg, forming a pocket-like depression when leg is folded back; median dorsal scales wider than adjoining scale rows; 28-32 rows about middle of body, the seales more or less keeled; median preanals overlap smaller outer preanal seales; nostril above suture of first labial and rostral; mental with smaller labial border than rostral; two postmentals; no postnasal; limbs touch or are slightly separated when adpressed.” (Taylor 1936)


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CommentSynonymy: The status of meridionalis is still unclear (A. SCHMITZ, pers. comm.). 
EtymologyNamed after the type locality. 
References
  • Bonetti, Mathilde 2002. 100 Sauri. Mondadori (Milano), 192 pp. - get paper here
  • Bons, J. 1959. Les lacertiliens du sud-ouest Marocain; systematique, repartition geographique, ethologie, ecologie. Instit. Sci. Cherifien, Rabat, Trav. (Ser. Zool.) no. 18 130 pp.
  • Boulenger, George A. 1891. Catalogue of the reptiles and batrachians of Barbary (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), based chiefly upon the notes and collections made in 1880-1884 by M. Fernand Lataste. Tr. Zool. Soc. 13: 93-164
  • Caputo V. ODIERNA G. APREA G. CAPRIGLIONE T. 1993. Eumeces algeriensis - a full species of the Eumeces schneiderii group (Scincidae) - karyological and morphological evidence. Amphibia-Reptilia 14 (2): 187-193 - get paper here
  • Damas-Moreira, Isabel, Beatriz Tome, James Harris, Joao P. Maia and Daniele Salvi. 2014. Moroccan herpetofauna: distribution updates. Herpetozoa 27 (1/2): 96-102 - get paper here
  • Doumergue,F. 1901. Essai sur la faune erpétologique de l'Oranie avec des tableaux analytiques et des notations pour la détermination de tous les reptiles et batraciens du Maroc, de l'Algerie et de la Tunisie. L. Fouque, Oran, 404 pp. - get paper here
  • Eiselt,J. 1940. Der Rassenkreis Eumeces schneiderii DAUDIN (Scincidae, Reptilia). Zool. Anz. 131: 209-228
  • Elbahi A, Lawton C, Oubrou W, El Bekkay M, Hermas J, Dugon M 2022. Reptile biodiversity in Souss-Massa National Park: an internationally important hotspot in the Mediterranean region. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e79088 - get paper here
  • Gervais, Paul 1836. Enumération de quelques espèces de reptiles provenant de Barbarie. Ann. Sci. Nat. (2) VI: 308-313 - get paper here
  • Griffith, H., A. Ngo & R. W. Murphy 2000. A cladistic evaluation of the cosmopolitan genus Eumeces Wiegmann (Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae). Russ. J. Herpetol. 7 (1): 1-16 - get paper here
  • Grossmann, Wolfgang & Andreas Schillert 2022. Der Berberskink Eumeces algeriensis Peters, 1864 – Pflege und Vermehrung im Terrarium. Sauria 44 (2): 35-51
  • Hediger, H. 1935. Herpetologische Beobachtungen in Marokko. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel 46: 1-49
  • Lambert, Helen; Gemma Carder and Neil D’Cruze 2019. Given the Cold Shoulder: A Review of the Scientific Literature for Evidence of Reptile Sentience. Animals 9: 821 - get paper here
  • Laurent, P. 1935. Contribution à la connalssance de la faune des Vertebres du Maroc (Batraciens, Reptiles, Mammiferes). Bull. Soc. d’Hist. nat. de l’Afrique du Nord 26: 344-359
  • Martínez del Mármol, Gabriel; D. James Harris, Philippe Geniez, Philip de Pous, and Daniele Salvi 2019. Amphibians and Reptiles of Morocco. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 478 pp - get paper here
  • Mediani, Mohamed; José Carlos Brito, Soumia Fahd 2015. Atlas of the amphibians and reptiles of northern Morocco: updated distribution and patterns of habitat selection. Basic and Applied Herpetology 29: - get paper here
  • Perera, Ana; Filipa Sampaio, Sara Costa, Daniele Salvi & D. James Harris 2012. Genetic variability and relationships within the skinks Eumeces algeriensis and Eumeces schneideri using mitochondrial markers. African Journal of Herpetology 61 (1): 69-80 - get paper here
  • Peters,W.C.H. 1864. Die Eidechsenfamilie der Scincoiden, insbesondere über die Schneider'schen, Wiegmann'schen und neue Arten des zoologischen Museums. Monatsber. K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1864: 44-58 - get paper here
  • Rouag R, Ziane N, De Sousa M 2024. A tentative list of reptilian fauna of Algeria and their conservation status. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e120471 - get paper here
  • Schleich, H.H., Kästle,W., Kabisch, K. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Koeltz, Koenigstein, 627 pp.
  • Schmitz, Andreas; Patrick Mausfeld and Dirk Embert 2004. Molecular studies on the genus Eumeces Wiegmann, 1834: phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic implications. Hamadryad 28 (1-2): 73 – 89 - get paper here
  • Sindaco, R. & Jeremcenko, V.K. 2008. The reptiles of the Western Palearctic. Edizioni Belvedere, Latina (Italy), 579 pp. - get paper here
  • Struijk, R.; S. Bogaerts & J. Kühn 2005. Haltung und Nachzucht des Berberskinks (Eumeces algeriensis PETERS 1864). Elaphe 13 (2): 35-48
  • Taylor, E. H. 1936. A taxonomic study of the cosmopolitan lizards of the genus Eumeces with an account of the distribution and relationship of its species. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 23 (14): 1-643 [1935] - get paper here
  • Werner,F. 1929. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsreise nach Westalgerien und Marokko. Sitzungsb. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-naturw. kl., Abt. 1, 138; 1-34 - get paper here
  • Werner,F. 1931. Ergebnisse einer zoologischen Forschungsreise nach Marokko. III. Unternommen 1930 mit Unterstützung der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien von Franz Werner und Richard Ebner. III. Amphibien und Reptilien. Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien Mathem.-Naturw., Sect. 1, 140: 272-318 - get paper here
  • Wilms, T. 2009. Marokko - Schatzkammer in Nordwesten Afrikas. Reptilia (Münster) 14 (75): 16-23 - get paper here
  • Zulueta, A. de 1909. Nota sobre reptiles de Melilla (Marruecos). Bol. Real Sociedad Esp. Hist. Nat. 9: 351-354
 
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